More deep fakes: From rental listings to anime characters

Thanks to the sudden popularity of an artificial intelligence (AI) image generator that makes scarily realistic images of faces, a whole host of other image generators have cropped up on the internet. Using the same generative adversarial network technology (GAN for short), these machine learning algorithms are producing everything from fake Airbnb listings, to anime characters.

We take a look at some of the best (and worst) of what these image generators have to offer. If you’re interested in finding out more about the technology behind deep fakes, make sure to read up on our article and take the deep fakes quiz.

Let me start off by saying, these generators are nowhere near as convincing as the human face generator. Now that you’ve shrugged that assumption to the side, I can introduce you to one of the funniest image generators on the market.

Via ThisRentalDoesNotExist.com

Replete with blurry images of master suites, bathrooms and living areas, this image generator also boasts an AI-written description of the luxury vacation alongside questionable statistics (7 people in 3 bedrooms? I guess if you squeeze in) and questionable hosts…

Take a look at some of our favourites below. How many mistakes and inconsistencies can you find?

Via ThisRentalDoesNotExist.com

I’m so glad she mentioned the slopes in the title. Such a selling point! Also, I don’t know about you but I think a toilet on the roof would have a great view. Plus, you’ll never want for another kitchen gadget while you’re staying here!

Via ThisRentalDoesNotExist.com

You’re gonna save a tonne of money on airfares – This rental is located in Barcelona, Athens AND London!

This is one for the anime lovers among us. It’s a anime-character generator that comes with a description of what that character is like.

Via ThisWaifuDoesNotExist.net

This is one of the most effective generators at creating a realistic rendering, because the images it’s copying aren’t realistic in the first place. It’s also interesting to think about how these applications might be utilised in future to create more cost-effective animations for TV shows and films.

Ok, this one is not actually a website that refreshes images of delicious meals with every click, but that’s what three researchers from Tel-Aviv University have aspired to do with their machine learning algorithm.

Credit: Ori Bar El, Ori Licht, Netanel Yosephian, Tel-Aviv University

Programming an AI to develop a recipe just from an image was the original intention, but the algorithm could be too easily fooled by hidden ingredients like butter, salt and pepper. So, they’ve created an AI that does the opposite. Takes a recipe and gives you a realistic idea of what that meal might look like.

We’d love to see this algorithm developed into a clickable website, but for now you’ll also get a peek behind the research that brings these kind of things to life.

Which is your favourite generator? Let us know in the comments!

Author: Eliza Brockwell

Eliza is the Digital Producer for Careers with STEM. Eliza is passionate about creating content that encourages diversity of representation in STEM.